December 2025 Entries

This entry is my ode to Nigella’s Ginger and Walnut Carrot Cake, for this cake has truly changed the course of my life this year. Slightly dramatic? Probably… but this cake warrants it. My obsession first began in November 2024, when my partner’s mum made it for his birthday. It was love at first bite. I immediately asked for the recipe, and she told me it was Nigella’s. Cut to a week or so later, and the cake still hadn’t left my mind. The siren-like calls of crystallised ginger and tangy cream cheese frosting were too loud to ignore. So, I remade it. Between my partner and me, the cake didn’t last the weekend. I then made it again, and again, and again—this time for a family member’s birthday, or to celebrate a job promotion. You name an occasion, and I’ve probably made this cake for it this year. Seriously. I even made it to celebrate getting out of a parking ticket. I’ve made a low-oil version when my mum had chemotherapy earlier this year, I’ve developed a vegan version for my sister, and I’ve even made it into cupcakes for a baby shower. One change I’ve made is swapping crystallised ginger for stem ginger in syrup; I find it adds a rich moisture to the topping and to the cake itself. This does mean you may need a dash more flour and slightly less grated carrot to counteract the added moisture. So thank you, Nigella! This cake has taken over my heart, mind, and stomach — and I truly believe I’m better off for it. Have a lovely Christmas, Team Nigella! Sincerely, Ria M